Brassiere

ABSTRACT

A brassiere including a flexible underwire attached to the bottom edge of a first cup to define a cup contour. The underwire includes a straight first end, a second end, and a central, radiused portion. A first wing is made from an unstretched pattern and is attached to the first cup. The first wing has a first edge having a lower portion connected to and corresponding to a lower portion of the cup contour, and an upper portion that is recessed relative to an upper portion of the cup contour when the pattern is unstretched. When the brassiere is worn by the woman, the first wing is stretched, concentrating a pulling force through the upper portion of the first edge to the upper portion of the cup contour, reducing the capacity of the first cup and raising the breast received within the first cup to enhance the appearance of the breast within the first cup.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to women's support undergarments, and more particularly to women's brassieres including an underwire support arrangement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Brassieres are commonly worn by women under their clothing to support their breasts. A brassiere, more commonly known to consumers as a bra, includes cups to support the breasts and wing portions that attach to the cups and encircle the upper torso of the woman to hold the bra on the woman's body. In some bra embodiments, the bra also includes straps that extend from the top of the cups, over the woman's shoulders, and are attached to the wing portions along the woman's back. Some bra designs utilize a flexible wire under the cups, known as an underwire, to provide additional support for the breasts. However, some underwire configurations can lead to pinching, digging, and other discomfort after the bra is fastened to the woman's body. Additionally, some underwire and wing configurations can lead to unattractive bulging of the cup when the bra is worn by the woman. It is thus desirable to provide an underwire bra design that is configured to minimize pinching and discomfort of the wearer, as well as provide a better fit and appearance when worn by a woman.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a brassiere to be worn by a woman for supporting and enhancing the shape of the breasts of the woman. The brassiere includes first and second cups configured to receive the breasts of the woman, and a flexible underwire attached to the first cup along a bottom edge defining a cup contour. The underwire includes a first end having a length, a second end opposite the first end, and a central portion extending between the first and second ends. The central portion is radiused and the first end is straight over the length. The brassiere also includes a first wing attached to the first cup and a second wing attached to the second cup. The first and second wings include distal ends adapted to connect together around the back of the woman. The first wing is made from an unstretched pattern with a first edge. The first edge has a lower portion that follows and is connected to the contour of a corresponding lower portion of the cup contour, and an upper portion that is recessed relative to a corresponding upper portion of the cup contour when the pattern is unstretched. The upper portion being connected to the corresponding upper portion of the cup contour. The first wing is stretched when the brassier is worn by a woman, concentrating a pulling force through the upper portion of the first edge to the corresponding upper portion of the cup contour. The pulling force reduces the capacity of the first cup, thereby raising the breast received within the first cup to enhance the appearance of the breast within the first cup.

In some embodiments, a second edge of the first wing extends between the first end of the underwire and the distal end of the first wing such that the second edge extends in a substantially straight line between the first end of the underwire and the distal end of the first wing when the pattern is unstretched.

In other embodiments, the first length of the first end of the underwire is greater than or equal to ten percent of the underwire length and less than or equal to fifteen percent of the underwire length.

In other embodiments, the first cup is formed from a piece of fabric using a tool. The tool includes a diameter that extends beyond the edge of the fabric such that the tool forms part of a neck hole edge into the first cup.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims, and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a bra according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an underwire for a bra, illustrating the prior art.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an underwire of the bra shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the underwire of FIG. 3 superimposed upon the underwire of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a wing for a bra, illustrating the prior art.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a wing of the bra shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the wing of FIG. 6 superimposed upon the wing of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a tool and pattern for forming a cup for a bra, illustrating the prior art.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a tool and pattern for forming a cup for the bra shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the pattern of FIG. 9 superimposed upon the pattern of FIG. 8.

Before one embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “having,” and “comprising” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a bra 14 embodying aspects of the present invention. The bra 14 includes a first cup 18 and a second cup 22 attached together and configured to receive the respective breasts of a woman, and a bridge portion 24 extending between the cups 18, 22. The first and second cups 18, 22 are substantially identical mirror images of each other and thus only the first cup 18 will be discussed in detail below. As such, the components of the first and second cups 18, 22 have been given like reference numerals to describe common components.

The first cup 18 has a capacity that varies depending on the size of the bra 14. The first cup 18 also includes a bottom edge 26, a neck hole edge 28, and a cup center 32 (see FIGS. 1 and 9). The construction of the first cup 18 will be discussed in more detail below. In the bra of the illustrated embodiment, a shoulder strap 30 is attached to a top edge 34 of the first cup 18. However, it is understood that the bra may not include shoulder straps in some embodiments and would still fall within the scope of the present invention.

The bra 14 also includes a flexible underwire 38 attached to the first cup 18 along the bottom edge 26. The underwire 38 defines a cup contour. Together, the first cup 18 and the underwire 38 support the woman's breast that is received within the first cup 18.

With further reference to FIG. 3, the underwire 38 includes a first end 42, a second end 46 opposite the first end, and a central portion 50 extending between the first and second ends 42, 46. The underwire 38 has an underwire length L₁ extending from the first end 42 to the second end 46. The first end 42 has a length L, and the first end 42 is straight over the length L₂ of the first end 42. The central portion 50 is radiused. In some embodiments, the second end 46 is also straight along a portion of the second end 46.

Traditionally, and as illustrated in FIG. 2, underwires 38A used for support in known bra configurations are radiused along their entire length. FIG. 4 illustrates the underwire 38 of the present invention (FIG. 3) superimposed upon the traditional underwire 38A (FIG. 2—shown in dashed lines) to illustrate the complete radius of the traditional underwire 38A, and the underwire 38 that is radiused along the central portion 50 but is straight along the length L₂ of the first end 42. The length L₂ of the first end 42 is greater than or equal to five percent of the length L₁, and less than or equal to twenty-five percent of the length L₁ of the underwire 38. More preferably, the length L₂ is greater than or equal to ten percent of the length L₁, and less than or equal to fifteen percent of the length L₁. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the length L₂ of the first end 42 is approximately equal to twelve percent of the underwire length L₁.

The traditional radiused wire configuration can lead to digging of the wire into the woman's torso and discomfort when the woman wears the bra, as well as unattractive drooping of the cup. As will be discussed in more detail below, the straight first end 42 relieves discomfort due to wire digging, as well as enhancing the appearance of the breast within the first cup 18.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6, a first wing 48 and a second wing 52 are attached to the first and second cups 18, 22, respectively. Similar to the first and second cups 18, 22 described above, the second wing 52 is a substantially identical mirror image of the first wing 48, and thus only the first wing 48 is described in detail below.

The first wing 48 and the second wing 52 have distal ends 54 that are adapted to connect together around the back of the woman when the bra 14 is being worn by the woman. As shown in FIG. 6, the first wing 48 is made from an unstretched pattern and has a first edge 58 that includes a lower portion 62 and an upper portion 66. The lower portion 62 extends downwardly from a transition point 68 of the first edge 58 and follows the contour of a lower portion 70 of the cup contour. The lower portion 62 of the first edge 58 is connected to the first cup 18 along the lower portion 70 of the cup contour.

The upper portion 66 is recessed relative to an upper portion 74 of the cup contour when the pattern is unstretched and extends upwardly from the transition point 68 of the first edge 58 to an endpoint 72. As shown in FIG. 6, the upper portion 66 extends in a substantially straight line between the transition point 68 and the endpoint 72 when the pattern is unstretched. The first wing 48 also includes a second edge 78, and a third edge 80. In embodiments, such as the bra 14 of FIG. 1, where shoulder straps are utilized, a second end of the shoulder strap 30 is attached to the second edge 78 of the first wing 48.

FIG. 5 illustrates a traditional wing pattern. As shown in FIG. 5, the wing 48A traditionally includes a first edge 58A that is radiused to follow the contour of the cup along the entire length of the first edge 58A when the pattern is unstretched. The recessed upper portion 66 of the present invention does not follow the upper portion 74 of the cup contour when unstretched. To attach the first wing 48 to the first cup 18, the upper portion 66 of the first edge 58 is attached to the upper portion 74 of the cup contour. FIG. 7 illustrates the first wing 48 of the present invention superimposed upon the traditional first wing 48A design, illustrating the recessed upper portion 66.

When the bra 14 is worn by a woman, the distal ends 54 of the wings are connected together around the torso of the woman. Thus, the first wing 48 is stretched. The stretching of the first wing 48 concentrates a pulling force through the upper portion 66 of the first edge 58 to the corresponding upper portion 74 of the cup contour. The pulling force reduces the capacity of the cup due to increased pull on the top of the first cup 18 and reduced pull on the bottom of the first cup 18, thereby raising the breast of the woman that is received in the first cup 18 to enhance the appearance of the breast within the first cup 18.

The pulling force also pulls the first end 42 of the underwire 38 away from the second end 46 of the underwire 38 and away from the woman's torso (and more specifically, away from a nerve that runs along the torso of the woman) by approximately ½ inch, thereby reducing any discomfort to the woman due to the ends of the underwire 38 digging into the torso of the woman. The straight first end 42 of the underwire 38 enhances these pulling effects. The underwire and wing configuration described above also concentrates the support of the bra 14 through the wings around the torso of the woman and not through the woman's shoulders, which reduces discomfort due to the shoulder straps 30 cutting into the woman's shoulders, and also improves the fit of the bra 14 by reducing the tendency of the wings to creep up the woman's back (which can cause the cups to tip away from the woman's body).

FIG. 9 illustrates a pattern 82 that is used to form the first cup 18. The first cup 18 is formed using a tool 86 that has a diameter 88. The tool 86 is used to make the cups for all bra sizes in a given line of bras. The diameter 88 is approximately equal to 4 ¼ inches. The tool 86 is heated and then applied to a piece of fabric to form and punch the first cup 18 out of the piece of fabric. The fabric includes an edge 92 that becomes at least a portion of the neck hole edge 28 of the first cup 18. The tool 86, in heating and forming the first cup 18, also creates a slight apex at the cup center 32 that is designed to correspond to the center of the breast that is received within the first cup 18.

With reference to FIG. 10, the diameter 88A of the traditional tool 86A is approximately 3% inches such that the diameter 88A falls entirely within the edge of the pattern 82A (and thus, within the edge of the fabric used to form the cup). Thus, a flattened portion of the cup forms the neck hole edge. In contrast, utilizing the tool 86 of the present invention, the diameter 88 of the tool 86 extends beyond the edge 92 of the fabric such that the tool 86 forms part 96 of the neck hole edge 28 into the first cup 18 so that the first cup 18 is constantly radiused from the part 96 of the neck hole edge 28 formed by the tool 86 towards the center 32 of the first cup 18. Forming the cup in this manner reduces the tension on the upper part of the cup, providing better coverage of the breast.

The bra 14 discussed in detail above can be made according to the following method. First and second cups 18, 22 are formed such that the first cup 18 has a capacity and a bottom edge 26. The underwire 38 is then attached to the bottom edge 26 of the first cup 18 to define a cup contour. The cups 18, 22 are then attached to the bridge portion 24. The first wing 48 is then attached to the first cup 18, the lower portion 62 of the first edge 58 being attached to the lower portion 70 of the cup contour, and the upper portion 66 of the first edge 58 being attached to the upper portion 74 of the cup contour. The second wing 52 is attached to the second cup 22 in the same manner as discussed above with respect to the first wing 48.

Following this method of construction, the first and second wings 48, 52 of the bra 14 extend outwardly from the first and second cups 18, 22 such that the wings 48, 52 form right angles with (or, are perpendicular to) the bridge portion 24 of the bra 14 when the bra 14 is laid out flat (as illustrated in FIG. 1). More specifically, the third edges 80 of the first and second wings 48, 52 are at right angles to an axis A extending through the center of the bridge portion 24. On traditional bras utilizing traditional wing configurations, the wings dip downwardly approximately fifteen to twenty degrees from the bridge portion when the bra is laid out flat, reducing the support under the cups. By configuring the wings to extend at right angles from the bridge portion 24, greater lift and support is provided to the bottom of the cup, further improving the fit and feel of the bra 14.

All of the components discussed in detail above work together to achieve a common goal: a better fitting, more flattering bra for women. The underwire configuration, wing configuration, and cup configuration all work together to allow for a consistent quality bra across all different bra types, and assure consistent bra sizing and coverage across different types of bras.

Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims. 

1. A brassiere to be worn by a woman for supporting and enhancing the shape of the breasts of the woman, the brassiere comprising: first and second cups attached together and configured to receive the respective breasts of the woman, the first cup having a capacity and a bottom edge; a flexible underwire attached to the first cup along the bottom edge and defining a cup contour, the underwire having an underwire length and including a first end having a length, a second end opposite the first end, and a central portion extending between the first and second ends, the central portion being radiused and the first end being straight over the length; and a first wing attached to the first cup and a second wing attached to the second cup, the first and second wings having distal ends adapted to connect together around the back of the woman when the brassiere is being worn by the woman, wherein the first wing is made from an unstretched pattern with a first edge having a lower portion that follows the contour of a corresponding lower portion of the cup contour, the lower portion of the first edge connected to the corresponding lower portion of the cup contour, and an upper portion that is recessed relative to a corresponding upper portion of the cup contour when the pattern is unstretched, the upper portion of the first edge connected to the corresponding upper portion of the cup contour; wherein the first wing is stretched when the brassiere is being worn by the woman, wherein stretching of the first wing concentrates a pulling force through the upper portion of the first edge to the corresponding upper portion of the cup contour such that the capacity of the first cup is reduced thereby raising the breast received within the first cup to enhance the appearance of the breast within the first cup.
 2. The brassiere of claim 1, further comprising a bridge portion extending between the first and second cups, and wherein the first wing includes a third edge such that when the first wing is attached to the first cup, the third edge is substantially perpendicular to the bridge portion.
 3. The brassiere of claim 1, wherein a second edge of the first wing extends between the first end of the underwire and the distal end of the first wing, and wherein the second edge extends in a substantially straight line between the first end of the underwire and the distal end of the first wing when the pattern is unstretched.
 4. The brassiere of claim 1, wherein the length of the first end of the underwire is greater than or equal to five percent of the underwire length and less than or equal to twenty-five percent of the underwire length.
 5. The brassiere of claim 1, wherein the length of the first end of the underwire is greater than or equal to ten percent of the underwire length and less than or equal to fifteen percent of the underwire length.
 6. The brassiere of claim 1, wherein the first cup is formed from a piece of fabric using a tool, the tool having a diameter, and wherein the diameter of the tool extends beyond the edge of the fabric such that the tool forms part of a neck hole edge into the first cup.
 7. The brassiere of claim 6, wherein the first cup is constantly radiused from the part of the neck hole edge formed by the tool towards a center of the first cup.
 8. The brassiere of claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the first edge extends in a substantially straight line between a transition point of the first edge and an endpoint of the first edge.
 9. A method of making a brassiere to be worn by a woman for supporting and enhancing the shape of the breasts of the woman, the method comprising: forming first and second cups, the first cup having a capacity and a bottom edge; attaching the first and second cups to a bridge portion; providing a flexible underwire having an underwire length, the underwire comprising a first end having a length, a second end opposite the first end, and a central portion extending between the first and second ends, the central portion being radiused and the first end being straight over the length; attaching the underwire to the bottom edge of the first cup to define a cup contour; providing an unstretched pattern with a first edge having a lower portion that follows the contour of a corresponding lower portion of the cup contour, and an upper portion that is recessed relative to a corresponding upper portion of the cup contour when the pattern is unstretched; attaching the pattern to the first cup to define a first wing, attaching the lower portion of the first edge to the corresponding lower portion of the cup contour of the first cup, and attaching the upper portion of the first edge connected to the corresponding upper portion of the cup contour; and attaching a second wing to the second cup; wherein connecting distal ends of the first and second wings together around the back of the woman stretches the first wing, concentrating a pulling force through the upper portion of the first edge to the corresponding upper portion of the cup contour, thereby reducing the capacity of the first cup and raising the breast received within the first cup, enhancing the appearance of the breast within the first cup.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein attaching the pattern to the first cup includes defining a first wing having a third edge that is substantially perpendicular to the bridge portion.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein providing an unstretched pattern includes providing a second edge that extends in a substantially straight line between the first end of the underwire and the distal end of the first wing when the pattern is unstretched.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein forming the cup comprises pressing a tool into a piece of fabric, the tool having a diameter that extends beyond an edge of the fabric, the tool forming a part of a neck hole edge into the cup.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein forming the cup further comprises forming a constantly radiused surface from the part of the neck hole edge that is formed by the tool towards a center of the cup.
 14. A brassiere to be worn by a woman for supporting and enhancing the shape of the breasts of the woman, the brassiere comprising: first and second cups attached together and configured to receive the respective breasts of the woman, the first cup having a capacity and a bottom edge, the first cup formed from a piece of fabric using a tool, the tool having a diameter that extends beyond the edge of the fabric such that the tool forms part of a neck hole edge into the cup; a flexible underwire attached to the first cup along the bottom edge and defining a cup contour, the underwire having an underwire length and including a first end having a length, a second end opposite the first end, and a central portion extending between the first and second ends, the central portion being radiused and the first end being straight over the length; a first wing attached to the first cup and a second wing attached to the second cup, the first and second wings having distal ends adapted to connect together around the back of the woman when the brassiere is being worn by the woman, wherein the first wing is made from an unstretched pattern with a first edge having a lower portion that follows the contour of a corresponding lower portion of the cup contour, the lower portion of the first edge connected to the corresponding lower portion of the cup contour, and an upper portion that is recessed relative to a corresponding upper portion of the cup contour when the pattern is unstretched, the upper portion of the first edge connected to the corresponding upper portion of the cup contour; wherein the first wing is stretched when the brassiere is being worn by the woman, wherein stretching of the first wing concentrates a pulling force through the upper portion of the first edge to the corresponding upper portion of the cup contour such that the capacity of the first cup is reduced thereby raising the breast received within the first cup to enhance the appearance of the breast within the first cup.
 15. The brassiere of claim 14, wherein a second edge of the first wing extends between the first end of the underwire and the distal end of the first wing, and wherein the second edge extends in a substantially straight line between the first end of the underwire and the distal end of the first wing when the pattern is unstretched.
 16. The brassiere of claim 14, wherein the length of the first end of the underwire is greater than or equal to five percent of the underwire length and less than or equal to twenty-five percent of the underwire length.
 17. The brassiere of claim 14, wherein the length of the first end of the underwire is greater than or equal to ten percent of the underwire length and less than or equal to fifteen percent of the underwire length.
 18. The brassiere of claim 14, wherein the first cup is constantly radiused from the part of the neck hole edge formed by the tool towards a center of the first cup.
 19. The brassiere of claim 14, wherein the upper portion of the first edge extends in a substantially straight line between a transition point of the first edge and an endpoint of the first edge.
 20. The brassiere of claim 14, further comprising a bridge portion extending between the first and second cups, and wherein the first wing includes a third edge such that when the first wing is attached to the first cup, the third edge is substantially perpendicular to the bridge portion. 